Arminta 'Ment' Lilly Ballance

Obituary Arminta "Ment" Lilly Ballance 86, of New Bern, passed away on 24 Feb 2020 while surrounded by her daughters, after a long and courageous battle with dementia and diabetes. Ment was born on 19 July 1933 in Mill Creek, NC and was married to Haywood Walter "Wally" Ballance, the love of her life, for 37 years. Ment was a strong-willed woman. She wasnt afraid of anyone or anything. She was a woman on the go who did not want to allow one moment of life to pass her by without her being in the middle of it. She was proud to be a fire and rescue volunteer for many years. She loved the Lord, Wally Ballance, her family, singing, and Mill Creek. She was affectionately known as the "Mayor" of Mill Creek. Until her health made it impossible, Ment was always involved in her church, Reeces Chapel in Mill Creek, NC. She was a gifted singer and loved to sing gospel and country music. She had a beautiful rich alto voice that she used to share her love for the Lord. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at Reece's Chapel Baptist Church in Mill Creek officiated by Rev. James "Winkie" Chadwick. Burial will follow in the Lilly Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church the hour prior to the service. Ment was proceeded in death by her parents, Dollie and Cyrus Lilly, her husband Wally, her son Carl Ballance, her sisters Violet "Penny" Fleming, and Carrie Joy "Coot" Graham Wallace. Her brothers C.T., Eugene, Levy and Rueben also predeceased her. She was a fierce Mama Bear to her own children and others that she "collected" along her journey. She is survived by her daughters; Cecilia Boyette, Darlene (Rich) Haney, Doreen (Nathan) Oglesby, Tammy (Jim) Pasela, Debbie (Wanda) Ballance, Crystal King, Peggy Ferretti and son Lawrence "Smokie" Borman, and 2 grandsons she and Wally raised; Patrick Nelson and Jackie Ballance. She also has 18 other grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by her sister Margaret Dixon and brother Sam (Suzanne) Lilly. Special thanks to her dear friend, Dan Moreau, her caregivers and Craven County Hospice. Flowers are welcome and memorials may be made to Mill Creek Fire Department or Craven County Hospice. Family and friends will gather at the home of Nathan and Doreen Oglesby at 2397 Mill Creek Rd, Newport NC. Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.org Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC. Services Visitation Thursday February 27, 2020 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Reece s Chapel Baptist Church Funeral Service Thursday February 27, 2020 1:00 PM Reece s Chapel Baptist Church